One week after a devastating attack on the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Manchester, the city’s Jewish community and the wider public are still coming to terms with the tragedy that claimed the lives of two men and left several others wounded. On October 2, 2025, Jihad Al-Shamie, aged 35, launched a brutal assault during Yom Kippur—the holiest day in the Jewish calendar—ramming his car into worshippers, attacking them with a knife, and attempting to force his way into the synagogue. The chaos ended only when armed police shot Al-Shamie dead outside the building.
The attack left two congregants, Melvin Cravitz, 66, and Adrian Daulby, 53, dead. According to the Associated Press, Daulby was accidentally shot by police while helping to barricade the synagogue doors to prevent Al-Shamie from entering. Three other men remain hospitalized with serious injuries, and another, Yoni Finlay, is recovering after being struck by a police bullet during the response. The incident has been described as one of the darkest days in recent memory for Manchester’s Jewish community.
In the immediate aftermath, Counter Terrorism Policing North West revealed that Al-Shamie had made a chilling 999 call during the attack, claiming responsibility and pledging allegiance to the Islamic State group. Assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts stated, “He also pledged allegiance to Islamic State,” confirming that the 999 call forms a critical part of the ongoing investigation into Al-Shamie’s motivations and connections. Police have since said they are increasingly confident that Al-Shamie was influenced by extreme Islamist ideology, though he had never previously been referred to authorities for extremist views or to the government’s anti-terror Prevent programme.
At the time of the attack, Al-Shamie was on bail over an alleged rape, but had not been charged. Police have emphasized that he was not on their radar for extremist activity, a point that has fueled anger and frustration in the local Jewish community. Raphi Bloom, a board member of the Jewish Representative Council, told Sky News, “Our feelings are still of mourning, of fear and of isolation. We feel very alone. We’re very, very angry that this was allowed to happen and fearful that it will happen again. But we won’t be cowed and we won’t be beaten.”
The attack has also intensified a broader debate in the UK about the line between criticism of Israel and antisemitism, particularly in the wake of rising antisemitic incidents since the events of October 7, 2023, in Israel and Gaza. The Community Security Trust, a charity that provides protection for British Jews, has recorded a sharp increase in antisemitic incidents over the past year, a trend that has left many in the community feeling vulnerable and isolated.
In the days following the attack, police arrested three men and three women in the Greater Manchester area on suspicion of terrorism-related offenses. A court granted police five more days to hold four of the suspects—men aged 30 and 32, and women aged 46 and 61—for further questioning. Two suspects, an 18-year-old woman and a 43-year-old man, were released without further action. By October 9, all those arrested had been released without charge, though police emphasized that the investigation remains active and ongoing. According to BBC News, the force stated, “This does not mean our investigation has concluded.”
One of the more dramatic developments occurred when a 30-year-old man, initially arrested on suspicion of terrorism offenses, was re-arrested at Manchester Airport on suspicion of failing to disclose information under Section 38B of the Terrorism Act 2000. This section of the law applies when someone is believed to have information that could assist in preventing terrorism but fails to disclose it “as soon as reasonably practicable.” The man was later released on bail with conditions, and police reiterated that they do not believe there is any ongoing threat to the public following the incident.
The community’s response has been marked by both grief and resilience. On October 9, exactly one week after the attack, a large crowd gathered outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation at 9:30 a.m.—the exact time of the assault—to pray and mourn the victims. Families of the victims, survivors, and local residents stood in silence, arms linked, in a powerful demonstration of solidarity. Rabbi Daniel Walker, who was present during the attack, led the vigil and told mourners, “Evil tried to defile these steps, but evil will not prevail.” The crowd applauded the Greater Manchester Police for their response on the day, despite the tragic circumstances.
The father of the attacker, Faraj Al-Shamie, has also spoken publicly, expressing deep sorrow for the victims and calling for unity. In a statement posted on Facebook and quoted by several outlets, he wrote: “The recent tragic act of terror has brought deep pain—to our family and to the families of the victims. Our hearts and prayers are with them. No one should ever experience such suffering again. We must all stand together—united, vigilant and compassionate—to prevent such acts and protect the peace of our communities.” He also expressed gratitude to the police, “who continue to work tirelessly to ensure safety, justice, and peace for everyone.”
Community leaders have echoed these calls for solidarity and vigilance. Rabbi Walker urged the congregation to show “deep resolve,” and the message from the Jewish Representative Council was clear: while the community is mourning and fearful, it will not be intimidated or divided by acts of hate. Events marking the one-week anniversary of the attack took place across the country, reflecting a determination not to let violence and terror define the community’s sense of self or its future.
As the investigation continues, the focus remains on understanding how Al-Shamie was able to carry out such a deadly attack without prior detection by authorities and whether others may have had information that could have helped prevent the tragedy. Police insist that their inquiries are far from over, and the community remains watchful, determined to honor the memories of Melvin Cravitz and Adrian Daulby by standing together against hate and violence.
The events of October 2 have left scars that will not soon heal, but in the face of tragedy, Manchester’s Jewish community has shown a remarkable spirit of resilience, unity, and hope for a safer future.
